School Counseling

The Role of the Elementary School Counselor . . .

• To assist learners to do and feel their best in school in order to facilitate their highest learning potential
• To consult with parents, teachers, administrators, & staff
• To provide brief counseling to learners, individually and in small groups, as needed
• To present periodic developmental guidance classroom lessons
• To contribute to the development of a positive school climate
• To consult with community agencies
• To follow the National Ethical Guidelines of the American School Counselors Association (ASCA)
• To make school counseling available for all students
• To teach skills for effective living and learning based on ASCA standards in the areas: Academic, Personal/Social, and Career

Focusing on connecting the academic curriculum and the social curriculum is a large part of Responsive Classroom practices and is a goal of school counseling. May this lead to happy, healthy life-long learning for all!

Timely Playground Problem Solving Tools

1. Remember the “Problem Solving Traffic Light” Model: STOP. (deep breath). THINK, “What can I do?”, GO, make a good, safe choice.
2. Make a find "Friends at Recess Plan” to help prevent problems and to have a plan to know what to do or play at recess time.
3. Use a “Problem Solving Peace Table” to sit down, talk, listen, and brainstorm ideas to solve a recess problem or conflict. Learners can read the "Problem Solving Choices Wheel" for ideas.
4. Go to the *“Buddy Bench” as a "last stop" if you are having trouble finding a friend to play with or other problem solving strategies are not working.

*Reminders for the "Buddy Bench":  A learner can rest, think, and continue to look around for what to do or wait for an invitation to play, and at that point, go with the person who extended the invitation. If two children end up on the Buddy Bench, they can play with each other! (So there is no need to have a group sitting on the Buddy Bench---"instant friends"!) All learners are encouraged to "check" the Buddy Bench from to time to time, to see if they can reach out and invite a new friend to play.

All students are encouraged to be problem solvers and seek adult help if the problem becomes too big to handle on their own, or there is harm or danger.

There are many relaxation strategies that can be taught to children to provide them with self-help, empowering tools when they feel angry, worried, nervous or stressed. Students will gain ideas such as: soup/hot cocoa breathing, deep breathing, counting, body/muscle relaxation, visualizing, and practicing an "I Can" growth mindset, understanding that one can learn from mistakes and move forward. These are short exercises that can be done anywhere to relax and refocus whether in a new circumstance, a challenging problem, or testing situation. Mindfulness (staying in the moment) strategies can also help quiet children's minds.

A team of third grade "Handy Peer Helpers" periodically assists our youngest learners with their letters, sounds, reading, and numbers by playing short games and reading books. Also, small educational counseling groups are offered on various topics such as friendship skills, school responsibility calm and coping skills, and can-do confidence builders. Learners also participate, from time to time, on "Project-Based Counseling-Art Activities" which contribute to our school community.

All learners create a Career Portfolio starting in Kindergarten and participate in Classroom Guidance and Junior Achievement Lessons, following the PA State standards for career education and ASCA model standards. The lessons are developmentally appropriate with the aim of having learners recognize their own gifts and talents, develop successful work habits, and gain awareness of different jobs in our community.